Now that the Kansas Legislature has adjourned , election season is in full swing . The importance of targeted advocacy and meaningful participation in policymaking is evident . KAIA is the trusted voice for Kansas insurance agents and brokers — always working with lawmakers on policies affecting the insurance industry and our small business clients . Effective advocacy does not begin and end according to legislative sessions . Effective advocacy is rooted in relationships and requires investment in mutual understanding and support . Our voice as independent insurance agent advocates is amplified by our political giving through KIAPAC . From taxes to tort reform , the Kansas Legislature each year considers bills that impact independent agents and their businesses . KIAPAC is a critical part of the association ' s efforts to build relationships with Kansas elected officials and to keep members of the Legislature informed about issues impacting small businesses and the independent agent system . If you haven ’ t already , please consider becoming a KIAPAC member today so that our advocacy remains strong and effective for Kansas insurance agents . •
FEATURE from $ 155,000 to $ 400,000 ;
• Increase temporary total disability from $ 130,000 to $ 225,000 ;
• Increase death benefits from $ 300,000 to $ 500,000 ; and
• Reduce the Social Security offset from 100 % to 50 %.
The bill also includes an adjustment formula , beginning July 1 , 2027 , that will increase the maximum benefit caps on an annual basis .
The bill also makes some administrative changes to the workers compensation process by limiting the use of independent medical exams , requiring the timely exchange of medical records , and creating a pathway for resolving cases with a written agreement instead of a settlement hearing .
Legal Reform : To address the Kansas Supreme Court ’ s decision ruling that the statutory caps on noneconomic damages caps were unconstitutional , the Kansas Chamber-led Legal Reform Task Force — KAIA participates in this Task Force — continues to introduce bills that the business community believes will make the pursuit of frivolous lawsuits more difficult and less enticing . One of those bills dealing with third-party funded litigation passed out of the House 83-39 , but never received a vote in the Senate . Late in the session , House and Senate negotiators attempted to revive the legislation in a conference committee report . Unfortunately , due to a challenging environment in the Senate , this second effort proved unsuccessful . The bill which would update the Code of Civil Procedure to allow a party to a legal proceeding to obtain discovery of the existence and content of a third-party agreement to pay expenses directly related to the legal claim and would provide a right to compensation based on the outcome of the case . This legislation , which KAIA testified in favor of , attempts to address the growing concern of lawsuits being funded by third parties , like venture capital and hedge funds .
Insurance Department Priorities : The legislature failed to pass a package of items that the Kansas
Insurance Department introduced this session . A conference committee report , Senate Bill 423 , wrapped in various provisions from several bills introduced by the department . Included in this package , were proposal to reduce the number of appointed board members on certain insurance-related governing boards and the frequency of meetings of the committee on surety bonds and insurance and a proposal to give the Commissioner additional flexibility to reduce a host of fees the department administers . The package passed the House but was met with resistance in the Senate due to a proposal shifting the administration of the state employee health plan from the Department of Administration to the Department of Insurance .
KIAPAC
Now that the Kansas Legislature has adjourned , election season is in full swing . The importance of targeted advocacy and meaningful participation in policymaking is evident . KAIA is the trusted voice for Kansas insurance agents and brokers — always working with lawmakers on policies affecting the insurance industry and our small business clients . Effective advocacy does not begin and end according to legislative sessions . Effective advocacy is rooted in relationships and requires investment in mutual understanding and support . Our voice as independent insurance agent advocates is amplified by our political giving through KIAPAC . From taxes to tort reform , the Kansas Legislature each year considers bills that impact independent agents and their businesses . KIAPAC is a critical part of the association ' s efforts to build relationships with Kansas elected officials and to keep members of the Legislature informed about issues impacting small businesses and the independent agent system . If you haven ’ t already , please consider becoming a KIAPAC member today so that our advocacy remains strong and effective for Kansas insurance agents . •
Dan Murray serves as KAIA ' s lobbyist and is a Partner at Devine , Donley & Murray Governmental Affairs , LLC . He has been in government relations for over 20 years .
MAY / JUNE 2024
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